31163 - German Literature 2

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired in-depth knowledge about various aspects and problems regarding literary history. The student will have a sound knowledge of the individual authors and works, and will be able to evaluate the literary quality of the works that have been studied, analyzing the texts according to specific critical methodologies.

Course contents

Literature and Politics in the Long German Twentieth Century

Drawing on a selection of examples, the course aims to present and discussthe often tightbond connecting literature and political changes within the German areasince the Congress of Vienna.These examples shall make the whole literary history of this long century visible. Whilst its main focus lies on the twentieth century,the course shall clarify that the roots of the self-intended political twentieth-century-literature are to be tracedbackto the works of Georg Büchner, the Vormärz, the Young Germany and the Naturalism.Alongside with the discussion ofliterary works, attention will be drawn tophilosophical-theoretical texts as well as the actual epistemological problem of the so-calledcommitted literature.

Concerning thenineteenth century, sections from Büchner’s works, examples from the Young Germany, Heinrich Heine’s political lyrical poems and texts from the Naturalism will be analysed. Within the twentieth century, the focus will be on the following authors, periods and movements:

-Bertolt Brecht

- The Republic of Weimar

- Exile Literature

- The fifties in the FRG and the GDR

- The literature of the ’68 movement

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Readings/bibliography

 

1) Storia della letteraura/ critica:

-Theodor W. Adorno, Impegno (Engagement). In: Adorno, Note per la letteratura

-Theodor W. Adorno, Die Wunde Heine, In: Adorno, Note per la letteratura. Ambedue meglio in tedesco, ma va bene anche in traduzione.

-Michael Dallapiazza/ Claudio Santi: Storia della letteratura tedesca, vol. 3, Il Novecento. 3. Ed. 2005, Laterza

-Ulrike Kindl, Storia della letteratura tedesca, vol. 2, Dal Settecento alla prima guerra mondiale, pp. 225-257; 271-304; 322-330, Laterza

2) Readings

- Georg Büchner, Der Hessische Landbote (german o italian)

-2 plays, one of narrative, one of poetry

 

from:

Plays

Georg Büchner, Woyzeck

Georg Büchner, Dantons Tod

Gerhart Hauptmann, Die Weber

Gerhart Hauptmann, Bahnwaerter Thiel

Ernst Toller, Masse Mensch. Ein Stück aus der sozialen Revolution des 20. Jahrhunderts

Ernst Toller, Hinkemann

Ernst Toller, Hoppla, wir leben (Oplà, noi viviamo)

Bertolt Brecht, Il Signor Puntila e il suo servo Matti –

Brecht, Furcht und Elend des dritten Reiches

Bert Brecht, Santa Giovanna dei Macelli –

Günther Weisenborn, Die Illegalen (In: Historie der Zeit. Enthaltend die Dramen)

Heinar Kipphardt, In der Sache J. Robert Oppenheimer : Die Soldaten (Sul caso di J. Robert Oppenheimer)

Rolf Hochhut: Il Vicario

Heiner Müller, Germania Tod in Berlin (Germania morte a Berlino)

Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Besuch der alten Dame

Max Frisch: Omobono e gli incendiari

Günter Eich, Träume (Hörspiel)

Peter Weiss, Die Ermittlung (L’istruttoria)

Romanzi/narrativa

Heinrich Mann, Il suddito

Thomas Mann, Doktor Faustus –

Wolfgang Koeppen, La morte a Roma. Zandonai, Rovereto 2008

Uwe Johnson, I giorni e gli anni, primo volume (agosto 1967-dicembre 1967). L’Orma editore,

Roma

Hans Magnus Enzensberger: La breve estate dell'anarchia. Vita e morte di Buenaventura Durruti

Günter Grass, Hundejahre (anni di cane)

Heinrich Böll, Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum

Karin Struck, Klassenliebe (Amore di classe)

Poetry

Bertolt Brecht: Hauspostille/ Libro di devozione domestica (ital. o tedesco).

Brecht: Svendborger Gedichte/poesie di Svendborg (ital. o ted.).

Ingeborg Bachmann, Die gestundete Zeit

Hans Magnus Enzensberger, Verteidigung der Wölfe

Erich Fried, Und Vietnam und : einundvierzig Gedichte

A list of further readings (Sekundärliteratur) will be given at the beginning of the lectures.

Programme for non-attending students:

Non-attending students must add the following texts to the programme: one more work of theatre, one more of narrative, one more of lyrics

 

Teaching methods

Seminar lessons

Assessment methods

The oral test consists in an oral interview which has the aim of evaluating the competence as well as the critical and methodological ability of the students.

Teaching tools

 

Office hours

See the website of Michael Gottlieb Dallapiazza